18 replies to this topic

[newnham500]

Ok, let me before this post begins say sorry. I know this may start a minor argument, so I’m sorry.
I want to dispel/ confirm an idea I have in my head about mini’s, that I grew up with and was told.

Are rover minis REAL minis, or are Austin’s better.

[Guess-Works.com]

All minis are real minis...

The Actual name of the manufacturer means very little, not forgetting minis were originally either Austin or Morris, then they came under the banner of British Leyland, and then Austin Rover, and finally Rover....

Plus many variations of the above depending upon the registrar

Edited by Guess-Works.com, 14 December 2011 - 12:29 PM.

[mab01uk]

Austin and Morris were once arch rival companies until merged together under BMC before the Mini was developed and Rover was a seperate luxury car manufacturer taken over by BL in 1968 before BL eventually took over BMC and made 'Mini' a standalone brand from 1969.
BL was originally a Lorry/Truck manufacturer! BL eventually became Austin-Rover, then Rover Group under Bae, then BMW from 1994, then MG-Rover for the final years of the classic Mini to 2000. The Rover designed New MINI Mk1 (R50) was retained by BMW at Cowley now called Plant Oxford.

As said they are all real classic Mini's to the same basic design, manufactured in the same factories with the same people regardless of the changes in controlling companies and names at the top.

Edited by mab01uk, 14 December 2011 - 01:00 PM.

[Mini_Magic]

Well technically Rover Minis are the "best", as the later ones have the most features (air bag, wood dashboard, side impact bars etc.). As said above, all Minis (1959 - 2001) are almost identical.

[jaydee]

Probably austin/morris mini were better than rover ones due to different production standard, which were changed to economy mode especially when BMW took control.
Old BMC minis had better steel panels, and more interior space, not to tell about the handling difference the old subframe coupled with 10" wheels gave over the later minis.

[newnham500]

interesting, so i can see why the older minis were regarded as better. you mentioned different production standards. i have seen this first hand in taking the back boot lock of and being amazed at the differnt types of screws for the same hole on my rover mini

[sport2000]

No difference, Mini older and newer(classic) just badge variants in my opinion..

[MiniChap]

Whilst i'd love to have an Austin Mini, my Rover is just as much a mini as any other. I guess i know where you're coming from with that question, The older ones are more traditional i guess, lack of radio, huge steering wheel, string door release Etc. Each newer version became further and further away from Issigonis' original design but in the whole has remained virtually the same.

[newnham500]

Very a good point there, and thank your for capturing the meaning of my post.

[puggered]

A few years ago when I was looking for a mini, I asked a mini expert which mini would be the best to go for and he recommended getting an Austin rather than a Rover as the Rovers rotted worse than the Austins. I don't know how much truth is in it with the rust issue between Rover and Austin.

[Mini_Magic]

I think the rust issue with later Rover Minis is more due to them now reaching the age where panels need replacing and still being used as daily drivers.

Very few olders Minis are still used everyday and those that are have probably had panels replaced at some point.

[stretch tech]

why not get a thirty like me? it was made by Austin-Rover and so is Austin on the log book but Rover on insurance...

[AVV IT]

It really depends on your definition of "better", i.e. better in what sense??

as in better build quality ??
as in more reliable ??
as in easier to maintain ??
as in more valuable ??
as in more desirable ??
as in more refined??
as in more comfortable??
as in safer??

etc etc....

in some of these "better " categories, earlier Austin Models will be significantly better off and in others the later Rover models will win hands down.....

As for are Rover minis REAL??..... that also depends entirely at what you're getting at by the term "REAL"??

Edited by AVV IT, 14 December 2011 - 08:20 PM.

[newnham500]

Good point, easy to forget the age of these cars. When you can bolt a new bit on (for most of the time really cheap)and off it goes again.

[newnham500]

Authentic, of the past, contains the mini energy that made it what it was.

Or are the rover mini's copy's, Imataions. Fakes. I should point out like my welcome post, I have a rover as well as my Austin. But I've never really connected with my rover, never really loved it. It's a fun drive, and what not. But it's for me, not quite there. Am I making sense or waffling.